Investec provides dedicated services for financial intermediaries, primarily focusing on specialist residential mortgages and bespoke wealth management for high-net-worth individuals. Working through these channels allows brokers and advisers to arrange tailored funding or investment solutions for clients whose complex income structures might not fit standard high-street lending criteria.
Before submitting a client application or Decision in Principle (DIP), brokers and financial advisers need to formally register their firm with the bank. Understanding the required compliance checks and how to navigate the dedicated intermediary portal helps prevent processing delays when placing a client's case.
Key Application Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Access Methods | Intermediary web portal, direct Business Development Manager (BDM) contact |
| Processing Time | Typically within a few business days for initial firm registration |
| Eligibility | FCA-authorised mortgage brokers, financial advisers, and wealth managers |
| Key Requirements | Valid FCA reference number, firm principal authorisation, registered business address |
Step-by-Step Registration Guide
- Verify that your firm holds active permissions on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register for the specific activities you plan to conduct.
- Navigate to the Investec intermediary website section and select the registration link for either mortgages or wealth management.
- Complete the online registration form by providing your individual contact details and your firm's FCA reference number.
- Wait for the broker support team to verify your details against the FCA register and set up your individual portal access.
- Once approved, log into the intermediary portal using the credentials sent to your registered business email address to begin submitting client applications.
Troubleshooting Portal Issues
- MFA / login issues: If your multi-factor authentication code fails, it is usually because the portal session timed out while you were gathering client data. Clear your browser cookies and request a fresh authentication code. If the code still does not arrive, contact the intermediary broker desk.
- Browser or upload errors: Large client portfolios or heavy PDF income proofs often cause upload timeouts on the portal. Compress the file size to under 10MB and ensure it is saved in a standard PDF format before retrying. If the upload continues to fail, try switching to a different web browser or email the documents directly to your BDM.
- Locked account access: Entering an incorrect password multiple times will lock your portal profile to protect client financial data. Wait approximately 15 minutes before attempting to reset your password via the "Forgot Details" link. If the account remains locked, you will need to call broker support to manually verify your identity and unlock the profile.
Pro-Tip: When submitting an application for a client with multiple income streams, bundle their tax returns, company accounts, and personal bank statements into a single, clearly indexed PDF. This reduces the risk of document loss and helps the specialist underwriter assess the overall financial picture much faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my client's mortgage application delayed?
Delays often occur when a client relies on non-standard income, such as retained business profits or foreign currency earnings. Because standard automated systems cannot accurately assess these profiles, the file is routed to a specialist underwriter for manual review. While a straightforward PAYE application might be assessed quickly, complex wealth structures take additional time. A practical next step is to contact your dedicated BDM to ensure the underwriter has all necessary context and isn't waiting on a missing accountant's certificate.
Can I track my client's application progress online?
When you submit a Decision in Principle (DIP) or full application via the intermediary portal, the system typically updates the status as it moves through the initial assessment phases. However, if a case requires a bespoke manual referral—which is common for high-net-worth clients—the digital tracker may not reflect real-time underwriter notes. If the portal status has not changed for several days, you should call your broker support team for a verbal update on the case.
Why can't I access the wealth management portal after registering?
New users sometimes find they cannot log in immediately because access permissions are managed at the firm level rather than the individual level. The bank's security protocols require the principal of your firm to formally authorise new advisers before they can view client portfolios or place trades. If you are locked out as a new user, you should check with your firm's compliance officer or principal to confirm they have signed and returned the necessary delegation mandate to the bank.
